Jon Favreau’s
Chef is a delectable take on an out-of-work cook who experiences career rejuvenation when
traveling cross-country serving Cuban entrees on a food truck.

Marking Favreau’s return to indie filmmaking — he emerged in 1996 with heartbreak
cult-classic
Swingers —
Chef is a refreshing project affording the writer-director the chance to scale down and
get personal after directing the first two
Iron Man blockbusters and 2011’s
Cowboys & Aliens.

When master chef Carl Casper (Favreau) is fired by the owner of a popular Los Angeles
restaurant (Dustin Hoffman) for requesting to stir up the fixed menu for a disapproving food critic
(Oliver Platt), he finds himself at a crossroads. After a video capturing Carl lashing out at the
critic goes viral, it becomes nearly impossible for the 40-something to get a new gig.

Down on his luck, Carl agrees to head to Miami with his wealthy ex-wife, Inez (Sofia
Vergara), and their 11-year-old son, Percy (Emjay Anthony), with whom Carl has been distant.

While
Swingers was all about searching for connections,
Chef focuses on maintaining them, with the relationship between Carl and his son steadily
growing while he looks for his new career.

Once in Miami, he meets with Inez’s rich ex-husband, Marvin, played by Robert Downey Jr. in a
hilarious standout performance. Marvin takes pity on Carl and offers him a food truck.

Longtime pal and grill chef Martin (John Leguizamo) joins Carl in Miami to help cook meals
from their childhood as they embark on a cross-country trip — with Percy in tow — back to LA.
Leguizamo offers lively comic relief in contrast to Favreau’s dry humor.

With the Cuban sandwich as their signature dish, they stop in places like New Orleans and
Austin, Texas, adding their own flair to local dishes. Foodies will enjoy the spotlight on
well-known haunts, such as Franklin Barbeque in Austin. And music lovers will appreciate the cameo
by blues guitarist Gary Clark Jr., who performs at the BBQ joint.

(And for extra kicks, stay through the credits for a glimpse of gourmet fast food guru Roy
Choi teaching Favreau the ropes on the grill.)